Information Processing Apparatus, Method of Controlling the Same and Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Medium Storing Instructions Therefor

ABSTRACT

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for an information processing apparatus stores instructions realizing a controlling program. The controlling program causes, when executed, a controller to obtain rendering information corresponding to a rendering event when a rendering event requiring input of the rendering command to the operating system is generated, obtain characteristic information regarding a resolution of the display, and generate the raster image data using the rendering information as obtained and an expansion rendering instruction information as input. The instructions cause, when executed, the controller to input reduced display instruction information in the operating system, the reduced display instruction being information instructing the operating system to display an image represented by the raster image data rendered in the rendering area at a first conversion ratio representing a ratio of a resolution of a display with respect to a particular resolution when the operating system executes the display process.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/021,607, filed Jun. 28, 2018, which application claims priority under35 U.S.C. § 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-178132 filedon Sep. 15, 2017. The entire subject matter of the application isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosures relate to a non-transitory computer-readablemedium containing instructions which cause a computer to control aninformation processing apparatus configured to create an image includingobjects.

Related Art

There has been known a technique of creating labels by operating aterminal connected to a label printer. Typically, the terminal isoperated by an operator and create a template including printing objectsin accordance with an editing operation by the operator.

SUMMARY

In association with a technological development of displays,high-resolution displays having twice or thrice the number of dots of aconventional display have been developed recently. When an object suchas letters, characters or lines are to be displayed on such a highresolution display when, for example, a template for a label, if data ofthe objects is not compliant to the high-resolution display, aperformance of the display cannot be sufficiently utilized such that,for example an outline of an object cannot be displayed smoothly. Thus,it is desirable that a displaying process is performed in accordancewith the resolution of the display.

According to aspects of the present disclosures, there is provided anon-transitory computer-readable medium for an information processingapparatus having a display, a memory and a controller, the displayhaving a plurality of display pixels, an operating system beinginstalled in the information processing apparatus, the non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing instructions realizing a controllingprogram, wherein, when a rendering command is received by the operatingsystem from a program installed in the information processing apparatus,the operating system is capable of performing a rendering process ofrendering raster image data in a rendering area secured in the memory inaccordance with the received rendering command, the raster image datahaving a plurality of pieces of pixel data, each of the plurality ofpiece of pixel data is image data for a unit of a pixel, wherein theoperating system causes, when executed, the controller to perform adisplay process to display an image represented by the raster image datarendered in the rendering area by controlling the plurality of displaypixels based on the raster image data rendered in the rendering area ofthe memory. The controlling program causes, when executed, thecontroller to perform, when a rendering event requiring input of therendering command to the operating system is generated, a renderinginformation obtaining process to obtain rendering informationcorresponding to the rendering event, and a raster image data generatingprocess to generate the raster image data using the renderinginformation as obtained and expansion rendering instruction informationas input, wherein the expansion rendering instruction information isinformation instructing the controller to generate the raster image databy expanding the raster image data indicated by the renderinginformation when the raster image data is generated at a firstconversion ratio, the first conversion ratio being a conversion ratiocorresponding to the characteristic information obtained in acharacteristic information obtaining process, the characteristicinformation obtaining process being a process to obtain characterinformation regarding a resolution of the display, wherein the firstconversion ratio is a conversion ratio assuming a size of non-expandedraster image data as one, the non-expanded raster image data being theraster image data generated in the raster image data generating processwhen using the rendering information as an input without including theexpansion rendering instruction information. Further, the instructionscause, when executed, the controller to perform a first input process ofinputting reduced display instruction information in the operatingsystem, the reduced display instruction being information instructingthe operating system to display an image represented by the raster imagedata rendered in the rendering area at the first conversion ratio whenthe operating system executes the display process.

According to aspects of the present disclosures, there is provided anon-transitory computer-readable medium for an information processingapparatus having a display, a memory and a controller, the displayhaving a plurality of display pixels, an operating system beinginstalled in the information processing apparatus, the non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing instructions realizing a controllingprogram. When a rendering command is received from a program installedin the information processing apparatus, the operating system is capableof performing a rendering process of rendering raster image data in arendering area secured in the memory in accordance with the receivedrendering command, the raster image data having a plurality of pieces ofpixel data, each of the plurality of piece of pixel data is image datafor a unit of a pixel. The operating system causes, when executed, thecontroller to perform a display process to display an image representedby the raster image data rendered in the rendering area by controllingthe plurality of display pixels based on the raster image data renderedin the rendering area of the memory. The controlling program causes,when executed, the controller to perform a rendering informationobtaining process to obtain rendering information corresponding to therendering event when a rendering event requiring input of the renderingcommand to the operating system is generated, a characteristicinformation obtaining process to obtain character information regardinga resolution of the display; and a first inputting process to input afirst rendering command including the rendering information obtained inthe rendering information obtaining process and a line width designatinginformation, the rendering information instructing rendering of imagedata indicating a line, the line width designating informationinstructing a first line width of the line instructed by the renderinginstruction to a second line width, the second line width identifying athinner line width than the first line width based on the characteristicinformation.

According to aspects of the present disclosures, there is provided amethod of controlling an information processing apparatus having adisplay and a memory, the display having a plurality of display pixels,an operating system being installed in the information processingapparatus, wherein, when a rendering command is received by theoperating system from a program installed in the information processingapparatus, the operating system is capable of performing a renderingprocess of rendering raster image data in a rendering area secured inthe memory in accordance with the received rendering command, the rasterimage data having a plurality of pieces of pixel data, each of theplurality of piece of pixel data being image data for a unit of a pixel,wherein a display process being executed to display an image representedby the raster image data rendered in the rendering area by controllingthe plurality of display pixels based on the raster image data renderedin the rendering area of the memory. The method executes a renderinginformation obtaining process to obtain rendering informationcorresponding to the rendering event when a rendering event requiringinput of the rendering command to the operating system is generated, anda raster image data generating process to generate the raster image datausing the rendering information as obtained and expansion renderinginstruction information as input, wherein the expansion renderinginstruction information is information instructing generation of theraster image data by expanding the raster image data indicated by therendering information when the raster image data is generated at a firstconversion ratio, the first conversion ratio being a conversion ratiocorresponding to the characteristic information obtained in acharacteristic information obtaining process, the characteristicinformation obtaining process being a process to obtain characterinformation regarding a resolution of the display, wherein the firstconversion ratio is a conversion ratio assuming a size of non-expandedraster image data as one, the non-expanded raster image data being theraster image data generated in the raster image data generating processwhen using the rendering information as an input without including theexpansion rendering instruction information. The method further executesa first input process of inputting reduced display instructioninformation in the operating system, the reduced display instructionbeing information instructing the operating system to display an imagerepresented by the raster image data rendered in the rendering area atthe first conversion ratio when the operating system executes thedisplay process.

According to aspects of the present disclosures, there is provided aninformation processing apparatus having a display, a memory and acontroller, the display having a plurality of display pixels, anoperating system being installed in the information processingapparatus, wherein, when a rendering command is received by theoperating system from a program installed in the information processingapparatus, the operating system is capable of performing a renderingprocess of rendering raster image data in a rendering area secured inthe memory in accordance with the received rendering command, the rasterimage data having a plurality of pieces of pixel data, each of theplurality of piece of pixel data being image data for a unit of a pixel,wherein a display process being executed to display an image representedby the raster image data rendered in the rendering area by controllingthe plurality of display pixels based on the raster image data renderedin the rendering area of the memory. The controller is configured toperform a rendering information obtaining process to obtain renderinginformation corresponding to the rendering event when a rendering eventrequiring input of the rendering command to the operating system isgenerated, and a raster image data generating process to generate theraster image data using the rendering information as obtained andexpansion rendering instruction information as input, wherein theexpansion rendering instruction information is information instructinggeneration of the raster image data by expanding the raster image dataindicated by the rendering information when the raster image data isgenerated at a first conversion ratio, the first conversion ratio beinga conversion ratio corresponding to the characteristic informationobtained in a characteristic information obtaining process, thecharacteristic information obtaining process being a process to obtaincharacter information regarding a resolution of the display, wherein thefirst conversion ratio is a conversion ratio assuming a size ofnon-expanded raster image data as one, the non-expanded raster imagedata being the raster image data generated in the raster image datagenerating process when using the rendering information as an inputwithout including the expansion rendering instruction information.Further, the controller executes a first input process of inputtingreduced display instruction information in the operating system, thereduced display instruction being information instructing the operatingsystem to display an image represented by the raster image data renderedin the rendering area at the first conversion ratio when the operatingsystem executes the display process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer system according to anillustrative embodiment of the present disclosures.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a relationship amongprograms (including OS and modules) and devices.

FIG. 3 shows a label edit screen displayed on an LCD of a PC of theprinter system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing operational sequence performed by animage data creating module when a text is displayed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining a conversionratio of an object processor.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a text object and an object frame before adjustmentand after adjustment.

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart showing a process of displaying an auxiliaryline performed by an image data creating module.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a line width setting process to set aline width by a device context wrapper.

EMBODIMENT

<Configuration of Printer System>

Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, an illustrativeembodiment according to aspects of the present disclosures will bedescribed. It is noted that the illustrative embodiment is only anexample of an embodiment according to the present disclosures, andvarious modifications can be made without departing from the aspects ofthe present disclosures. For example, an order of processes and stepsaccording to the illustrative embodiment, which will be described later,can be changed as far as the aspects of the present disclosures are notchanged.

The printer system 1 according to the illustrative embodiment shown inFIG. 1 is provided with a PC 10, a printer 50 and a wireless printer 51.The PC 10 mainly has a CPU (an example of a controller) 12, a memory 14,a display I/F (an example of an interface) 15, an LCD (an example of adisplay) 16, an input I/F (an example of a user interface) 18, and anetwork I/F 20. The components of the PC 10 mentioned above areinterconnected through a bus 22 so as to communicate with each other.

The PC 10 and the printer 50 can perform a wired communication with eachother through a network I/F 20 and a network 56. For the wiredcommunication, a LAN cable may be employed, for example. It is notedthat, for the wired communication, a USB cable or the like may beemployed instead of the LAN cable. Further, the PC 10 and the wirelessprinter 51 can perform a wireless communication through the network I/F20 and the network 56. For the wireless communication, a communicationmethod compliant to the Wi-Fi® standard or the Bluetooth® standard maybe employed. Further, the network 56 may be LAN (including a wired LANor a wireless LAN) or a WAN (including the Internet).

The printers 50 and 51 are, for example, label printers configured totransmit/receive various pieces of information and/or instructionsignals to create item labels on which desired texts and images areprinted, under control of the PC 10. For example, the printers 50 and 51are configured to create the item labels by printing texts and images ona tape-type medium such as a long laminated film.

The CPU 12 executes operations in accordance with an application program26 (an example of a control program) and an OS 32. The applicationprogram 26 is for editing images and creating labels by printing theedited image with the printers 50 and 51. The application program 26includes, as processing modules, an edit screen control module 27, animage data creating module 28 and a device control module 29.

It is noted that the application program 26 may not be configured withan aggregation of a plurality of program modules as above, but may beconfigured as a single program. Further, the application program 26needs not be limited to a program to print the edited images on thelabels. That is, the application program 26 may be a program causing apage printer to print edited images on A4 or A3 size sheet. Furthermore,the application program 26 may be a program instructing a workingmachine to reproduce the edited images on a surface of a metal, a glassor a wool member. A laser marker is an example of such a workingmachine. Still further, the application program 26 may be a programinstructing a 3D printer or working machine to create a 3D objectrealizing the edited images.

The OS 32 is a program providing basic functions which are used by theapplication program 26. The OS 32 is, for example, an operation systemsuch as Windows®, MacOS®, Linux®, Android®, iOS® and the like. In thefollowing description, the CPU 12 executing a program such as theapplication program 26 may be referred to simply by the name of theprogram being executed. For example, an expression “the applicationprogram 26 performs an operation” may mean “the CPU 12 executing theapplication program 26 performs an operation” or “the applicationprogram 26 causes the CPU 12 to perform an operation.”

FIG. 2 schematically shows a relationship among various programs(program modules) and devices. For example, the edit screen controlmodule 27 is for displaying, on the LCD 16, an edit screen used tocreate or edit labels. The edit screen control module 27 transmitsdisplay instructions to the OS 32 using an API provided by the OS 32,and performs a display process using a displaying program provided bythe OS 32. The OS 32 controls the display I/F 15 in accordance with thedisplay instruction output by the edit screen control module 27 todisplay the edit screen on the LCD 16.

The edit screen control module 27 instructs the image data creatingmodule 28 to create image data indicating an image for displaying anobject representing a label subject to edition. Then, the edit screencontrol module 27 receives the image data created by the image datacreating module 28 therefrom, and displays an image based on thereceived image data on the LCD 16.

The object here means a text, figures (e.g., a circle, a square and thelike) and images which configure the label. In response to receipt of aninput operation to edit an object from the input I/F 18, the edit screencontrol module 27 instructs the image data creating module 28 to createimage data representing the image for displaying the edited objects onthe edit screen. Editing of objects includes addition/deletion ofobject, change of sizes of objects, changing positions (i.e.,relocation) of objects, change of text, change of colors and the like.

The edit screen control module 27 instructs the image data creatingmodule 28 to create image data representing the image of the labeledited in the edit screen in order to print the label image with theprinter. Then, the edit screen control module 27 receives the image datacreated by the image data creating module 28 therefrom. Then, the editscreen control module 27 delivers the received image data to the devicecontrol module 29 together with a print instruction so that the label isprinted by the printer 50 or the printer 51.

It is noted that the edit screen control module 27 causes the wirelessprinter 51 to print the label by delivering the image data received fromthe image data creating module 28 and the print instruction to thegeneral purpose print module 17 provided to the OS 32. An example of thegeneral purpose print module 17 is AirPrint® implemented in the MacOS.The general purpose print module 17 transmits the print instruction ofthe image data received from the edit screen control module 27 to aprinter including the printer 50 or 51 compliant to the general purposeprint module 17 through the network I/F 20.

The image data creating module 28 is a program which is provided withlibraries for creating or editing image data to create a label, andexecutes creating or editing of the image data. In accordance with aninstruction transmitted from the edit screen control module 27, theimage data creating module 28 creates the image data for displaying thelabel on the LCD 16 or the image data for causing the printer 50 or 51to print the image indicating the label.

The device control module 29 is a program causing the printer 50 toperform printing through the network I/F 20. The device control module29 causes the printer 50 or 51 to print the image showing the label by,for example, receiving the image data representing the image to beprinted by the printer to print the label and the print instruction fromthe edit screen control module 27, converting the received image data tothe print image data used for printing in accordance with the receivedprint instruction, and transmitting the converted print image data tothe printer 50 or 51.

The memory 14 has a data storage area 34, which is for storing datanecessary for execution of the application program 26. According to theillustrative embodiment, the memory 14 is configured by one of, some of,or all of a combination of a RAM, ROM, a flash memory, an HDD, aportable storage medium such as a USB memory attached to the PC 10, anda buffer provided to the CPU 12.

It is noted that the memory 14 may be a computer-readable storagemedium. The computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium.The non-transitory medium includes, in addition to the computer-readablestorage medium above, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM andthe like. It is also noted that the non-transitory medium is a tangiblemedium. In contrast, an electrical signal carrying programs downloadedfrom a server on the Internet or the like is a computer-readable signalmedium, which is one type of a computer-readable medium, is not includedin the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

Further, the memory 14 includes a device context 35. The device context35 is an area secured by the OS 32 in the memory 14, and serves as astorage area for rendering. The OS 32 may secure the device context 35in response to a request by the edit screen control module 27. Thedevice context 35 includes a rendering area used to render an object bythe image data creating module 28. Further, the device context 35 has astorage area for storing setting information related to rendering suchas line widths of straight lines for rendering (which is an example oftype information). The image data creating module 28 obtains, from theOS 32, authorization to edit the rendering area of the device context 35secured by the OS 32, and change the setting information and the like.After obtaining such authorization, the image data creating module 28renders raster image data of an object in the rendering area of thedevice context 35 utilizing the API provided by the OS 32. It should benoted that the term “render” used in the specification sometimes meansstoring the raster image data in the device context 35. The raster imagedata includes a plurality of pieces of pixel data. The pixel data isimage data for a unit of a pixel. Further, the pixel is a minimum unitof an image represented by image data.

The OS 32 performs the display process to display an image on the LCD 16based on the raster image data and the setting information stored in thedevice context 35. That is, the OS 32 controls each dot of the LCD 16based on the raster image data rendered in the rendering area, therebyperforming the display process to display an image represented by theraster image data on the LCD 16.

The LCD 16 displays various pieces of information regarding the PC 10.The LCD 16 is connected to the bus 22 via the display I/F 15, andobtains display data through the I/F 15. The LCD 16 is configured suchthat the display screen thereof has a plurality of dots (an example ofdisplay pixels). It is noted that, according to the illustrativeembodiment, the display need not be limited to the liquid crystaldisplay, but other type of display (e.g., ELED: organic light emittingdisplay) can be employed.

The input I/F 18 is an interface through which the user operations areinput, and includes a keyboard and a mouse. It is noted that the inputI/F 18 needs not be limited to the keyboard or the like, and may includea film-type touch sensor overlaid on a display screen of the LCD 16.

<Displaying Operation>

Next, an operation of the image data creating module 28 when the text orauxiliary lines are to be displayed on a label edit screen will bedescribed. FIG. 3 shows an example of a label edit screen 61 displayedon the LCD 16. As shown in FIG. 3, on the label edit screen 61, anediting area 63 for editing a label is displayed. The label edit screen61 has a rectangular shape having a longer side extending, for example,in a longitudinal direction of a label to be created as shown in FIG. 3.

Within the editing area 63, in the example show in FIG. 3, a text object65 in which a text “NEW LABEL” has been input is displayed. A framesurrounding the text object 65 is an object frame 66 indicating alocation of the text object 65. Displaying or non-displaying of theobject frame 66 is selectable. Further, within the editing area 63, animage 67 for the label is displayed. The image 67 for the label is aphotograph or an image of a logo to be printed on the label.

In the editing area 63, grid lines 68 are displayed. The grid lines 68are displayed as straight lines extending in two orthogonal directions(i.e., an up-down direction and a right-left direction in FIG. 3) suchthat the rectangular editing area 63 is divided into square areasarranged in matrix. Further, in the label edit screen 61, guide lines 69indicating central positions in the up-down direction and in theright-left direction of the editing area 63 are indicated, respectively.Further, on an upper port and a left side part of the editing area 63,rulers 71 are displayed, respectively. Furthermore, in the editing area63, an icon 73 indicating a positon of a mouse of the input I/F 18 isdisplayed. On the upper ruler 71, an indicating line 75 indicating aposition of the icon 73 or a position of an object selected by the icon73 is indicated. The indicating line 75 moves in the right-leftdirection along the upper ruler 71 synchronously with movement of theicon 73 in the right-left direction.

<Display of Text>

The image data creating module 28 performs expanding or the like of theraster image data rendered in the device context 35 to adjust thedisplay image of the text in the displaying process of the text object65 described above. FIG. 4 shows a sequence of the process performed bythe image data creating module 28 when the text is displayed. FIG. 5 isa flowchart illustrating a conversion ratio determining process todetermine the conversation ratio to be utilized by the object processor28A.

The sequence charts and flowcharts basically show processes of the CPU12 in accordance with instructions scripted in the programs. Processesindicated by terms “determine”, “extract,” “select,” “calculate,”“judge,” “identify,” “obtain,” “receive,” “control,” “set” and“calculate” are the processes of the CPU 12. It is noted that theprocesses executed by the CPU 12 include a hardware control through theOS 32. It is further noted that the term “obtain” will be used to mean aconcept in which a request is not necessary. That is, a process in whichthe CPU 12 receive data without requesting for the same is included in aconcept that the CPU 12 obtains the data. Further, a term “data” in thespecification is represented by a computer-readable bit array. Aplurality of pieces of data having substantially the same meaning orcontents but different formats will be treated as the same data. A term“information” used in the specification will be treated in the samemanner Further, the processes of “instruct”, “respond” and “request” areexecuted by communicating information or data indicating “instruct”,“respond” and “request”, respectively. Furthermore, the terms“instruct”, “respond” and “request” may be stored as information or datameaning “instruct”, “respond” and “request”, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image data creating module 28 according to theillustrative embodiment includes an object processor 28A and a devicecontext wrapper 28B. The object processor 28A and the device contextwrapper 28B are processing modules included in the image data creatingmodule 28. The object processor 28A is a processing module to determinewhether the raster image data should be expanded. The device contextwrapper 28B is configured to receive a command from the object processor28A and transmit the command to the OS 32, and provide a sharedinterface to the object processor 28A which does not depend on a kind ofan operation system (e.g., OS 32). The device context wrapper 28Bconverts the command or the like transmitted from the object processor28A to an API format command provided by the OS 32. The object processor28A transmits a rendering command and the like to the OS 32 through thedevice context wrapper 28B. Therefore, even if the kind of the OS 32 hasbeen changed, the object processor 28A is capable of executing therendering command and the like with use of the same commands orarguments by utilizing the API.

In S11 of the sequence chart shown in FIG. 4, the object processor 28Aobtains the rendering information. It is noted that, when a renderingevent to input a rendering command to the OS 32 has occurred, the objectprocessor 28A obtains the rendering information corresponding torendering event.

The edit screen control module 27 determines, in the process when the PC1 is being booted or after the PC has been booted, whether a renderingevent has been generated. The rendering event includes a starting eventwhich is generated when the edit screen control module 27 is started. Itis noted that there are plurality of types of rendering events. It isalso noted that the edit screen control module 27 may determine whicheven is being generated based on not only the event information, butcomparison between information indicating a location at which anoperation input included in the event information has been done withstatus information of the edit screen control module 27. The statusinformation may include information, which indicates a position or sizeof each of the objects displayed on the LCD 16 updates occasionally asneeded, by the edit screen control module 27. According the illustrativeembodiment, the booting (i.e., start-up) event and a plurality ofrendering events are collectively referred to as the “rendering event”of the same of explanation.

The edit screen control module 27 is programmed such that which one ofrendering processes is to be executed and which piece of renderinginformation is to be used are programmed in association with each of thestaring event and the plurality of rendering events. The renderingevents include ones in which a rendering process of text objects 65 andauxiliary lines is performed when the event is generated, and ones inwhich such a rendering process is not performed. It is noted that theremay be a case in which a rendering event with which a plurality ofrendering processes to render the text objects 65 and the auxiliarylines, and a plurality of rendering processes to render objects otherthan the text object 65 or the auxiliary line are associated.

For example, when receiving information to input a new text object 65 tothe editing area 63 indicated on FIG. 3 in accordance with the operationinput through the input I/F 18, the edit screen control module 27recognizes that a rendering event to render the text object 65 andtransmits a rendering command to the object processor 28A. In responseto receipt of the rendering instruction from the edit screen controlmodule 27, the object processor 28A obtains rendering informationregarding the text object 65 to be rendered (S11). The renderinginformation includes, for example, contents of the text to be rendered,a rendering position, a font size, a type of the font and the like. Inthe following description, a case where a text rendering event using ascalable font is generated as the rendering event will be described. Thescalable font is a data format in which a shape of each letter orcharacter is stored as vector image data. When a text of the scalablefont is rendered, the letter or character is rendered in accordance withthe designated font size. Accordingly, the object processor 28Aaccording to the illustrative embodiment executes, when the text of thescalable font is to be rendered as the rendering event, a displayprocess shown in FIG. 4.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the device context wrapper 28B obtainsscale S corresponding to the resolution of the LCD 16 (an example ofcharacteristic information) in S13. The scale S here is a valueindicating a ratio of the resolution when the resolution of a standarddisplay is assumed to be one (i.e., a ratio of the resolution of the LCD16 with respect to the resolution of the standard display). For example,for a display of which resolution is twice the resolution of thestandard display, the value of the scale S is “2.” The device contextwrapper 28B obtains the value of the scale S by, for example, reading asetting file which has been stored in the memory 14 when the applicationprogram 26 is started. Alternatively, the device context wrapper 28Bobtains the value of the scale S from the OS 32 through the applicationprogram 26.

Next, upon obtaining the rendering information in S11, the objectprocessor 28A obtains the scale S from the device context wrapper 28B(S15). Then, in S17, the object processor 28A performs a conversionratio determining process to determine a conversion ratio (an example ofa first conversion ratio) to expand the raster image data to be renderedin the device context 35 based on the scale S obtained in S15.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the conversion ratio determiningprocess. In S19, the object processor 28A determines whether theobtained scale S is larger than “1,” that is, whether the resolution ofthe LCD 16 is higher than the resolution of the standard display. Whenit is determined that the value of the scale S is larger than “1” (S19:YES), that is, when the LCD 16 is a high-resolution display, the objectprocessor 28A sets the value of the scale S as the conversion ratio tobe used (S21). Then, the object processor 28A terminates the processshown in FIG. 5, and performs step S25 (FIG. 4) onwards.

When it is determined that the value of the scale S is equal to or lessthan “1” (S19: NO), that is, when the LCD 16 is the standard display,the object processor 28A sets “1” as the conversion ratio (S23). In thiscase, since the resolution of the LCD 16 is relatively low, even if thenumber of pixels of the image data is increased by expanding rasterimage data, which will be described later, an image represented by theexpanded image data cannot be displayed on the LCD 16. Therefore, theobject processor 28A does not perform an expanding process and the likein S25 onwards in FIG. 4, while executes the rendering process on thedevice context 35 (S24) in accordance with the rendering informationobtained in S11. The image data creating module 28 then terminates therendering process shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

After the object processor 28A sets the conversion ratio to the value ofthe scale S (FIG. 5: S21), and starts the process in S25 onwards (FIG.4), the object processor 28A transmits the first rendering commandincluding the rendering information obtained in S11 and expansionrendering instruction information concerning the conversion ratio to theOS 32 through the device context wrapper 28B. The expansion renderinginstruction information is instruction information instructing the OS 32to render the raster image data of the object 65 subject to therendering command in the rendering area of the device context 35 withexpanding the same at the conversion ratio. In other words, theconversion ratio indicates a ratio of the size of the expanded rasterimage data with respect to the size of the raster image data which wouldbe rendered in the device context 35 in accordance with the renderingcommand not including the expansion rendering instruction information.

The device context wrapper 28B instructs the OS 32 to render the imagein the device context 35 based on the rendering information and theexpansion rendering instruction information received in S25 from theobject processor 28A (S27). The device context wrapper 28B causes the OS32 to execute the rendering command using, for example, the API. The OS32 then executes rendering in the rendering area of the device context35 (S29). For example, the OS 32 identifies the vector image data of thescalable font to be displayed on the LCD 16 based on the renderinginformation obtained from the device context wrapper 28B. Then, the OS32 magnifies the image indicated by the vector image data of theidentified scalable font based on the conversion ratio of the expansionrendering instruction information obtained from the device contextwrapper 28B, and render the same in the device context 35 as the rasterimage data. That is, the OS 32 renders the raster image data which hasbeen expanded based on the resolution of the LCD 16 in the devicecontext 35.

Next, the object processor 28A transmits the reduced display instructioninformation to the OS 32 through the device context wrapper 28B (S31).The reduced display instruction information is for instructing the OS 32to display the image indicated by the image, which has been magnified atthe magnification ratio equal to the value of the scale S, on the LCD 16in a reduced manner. The object processor 28A instructs the OS 32 toreduce the image which is the magnified image indicated by the rasterimage data by multiplying a ratio of 1/S and display the thus reducedimage on the LCD 16. That is, the object processor 28A according to theillustrative embodiment instructs the OS 32 to display the image byreducing the same at a ratio which is an inverse number of themagnification ratio at which the image represented by the raster imagedata has been magnified. It is noted that the object processor 28A maytransmit the first rendering command (S25) and the reduction instruction(S31) to the OS 32 at the same time.

When receiving the reduced display instruction information in S31, thedevice context wrapper 28B executes a command of temporarily storingsetting information of the device context 35 in the OS 32. As above, thedevice context 35 has a storage area, besides the rendering area,configured to store the setting information regarding rendering of theimage (e.g., a line thickness of straight lines to be rendered). Thesetting information includes coordinate of the rendering area at whichthe image represented by the raster image data is rendered, and theconversion ratio at which the image represented by the raster image datais displayed on the LCD 16 (hereinafter, referred to as coordinateconversion ratio). The coordinate conversion ratio is a value indicatinga correspondence relationship between a logical coordinate in therendering area and a position of a dot on the LCD 16, that is, aphysical coordinate of a dot on the LCD 16.

When, for example, the coordinate conversion ratio is “1,” the OS 32associates the logical coordinate of the rendering area with thephysical coordinate of the dot at a ratio of one to one. When thelogical coordinate and the physical coordinate are indicated by X-Ycoordinates, pixel data of the rendering area and X=3 and Y=3 isindicated at a dot of which logical coordinates are X=3 and Y=3. Theimage indicated by the raster image data is displayed on the LCD 16 withits size being maintained. If the coordinate conversion ratio is 1/2,the OS 32 associates the logical coordinate with the physical coordinateof the dot at a ratio of two to one. In this case, the pixel data at X=3and Y=3 of the rendering area is indicated by the dot at X=1.5 and Y=1.5of the logical coordinate. The image indicated by the raster image datarendered in the rendering area is displayed on the LCD 16 with beingreduced to ½ size with the number of pixels being maintained. When, forexample, the coordinate conversion ratio is two, the OS 32 associatesthe logical coordinate with the physical coordinate of the dot at aratio of one to two. In such a case, the pixel data at X=3 and Y=3 ofthe rendering area is indicated by the dot at X=6 and Y=6 of the logicalcoordinate. Thus, the image indicated by the raster image data isdisplayed on the LCD 16 with being magnified to twice the size with thenumber of pixels being maintained.

It is noted that whether there exists a dot corresponding to decimalcoordinates (e.g., X=1.5 and Y=1.5) depends on the resolution of the LCD16. That is, for the standard display, the dot only exists at a positioncorresponding to integer coordinates, and the pixel data correspondingto decimal coordinates (e.g., X=1.5 and Y=1.5) is not reflected. Incontrast, when the display is of a high resolution (e.g., when thedisplay has twice the number of dots of the standard display), thereexists a dot corresponding to, for example, the coordinate of X=1.5, andsuch pixel data is reflected in the image displayed on the LCD 16.Accordingly, the image data creating module 28 of the illustrativeembodiment is configured such that, when the scale S of the LCD 16 islarger than one (i.e., when the LCD 16 is a high-resolution display),the raster image data is expanded by the value S of the scale, therebythe number of pieces of the pixel data being increased. Further, bydisplaying the image represented by the expanded raster image data byreducing the same to 1/S size on the LCD 16, it becomes possible todisplay the image with the number of dots used for displaying the imagebeing increased (i.e., the number of pieces of the pixel data for a unitarea being increased) depending on how high the resolution of the LCD16.

The device context wrapper 28B instructs the OS 32 to store the currentsetting information based on the reduce display instruction informationobtained in S31 prior to changing the coordinate conversion ratio (S33).The OS 32 temporarily stores the current setting information stored inthe device context 35 in the memory 14 or the like based on theinstruction output by the device context wrapper 28B.

Next, the device context wrapper 28B instructs the OS 32 to change thesetting information of the device context 35 (i.e., the setting of thecoordinate conversion ratio) (S35). Since the device context wrapper 28Breceives a command to reduce the size to 1/S from the object processor28A in S31, the device context wrapper 28B instructs the OS 32 to setthe value of “1/S” to the coordinate conversion ratio. It is noted thatthe device context wrapper 38B instructs the setting of the coordinateconversion ratio using, for example, the API.

Next, the device context wrapper 28B instructs the OS 32 to display animage on the LCD 16 based on the information of the device context 35(S37). The OS 32 controls the dots of the LCD 16 based on the settinginformation of the device context 35 and the raster image data todisplay the image represented by the raster image data (S39). Since thecoordinate conversion ratio has been changed in S35, the device contextwrapper 28B transmits a restoration command to the OS 32 to restore thesetting information stored in S33 (i.e., the information before changed)(S41). As above, the image data creating module 28 according to theillustrative embodiment executes an adjusting process to expand theraster image data of the text object 65, and display the expanded rasterimage data in a reduced manner

FIGS. 6A and 6B show how the text object 65 is displayed before andafter the above-described adjustment is applied. FIG. 6A shows the textobject 65A before the adjustment, and FIG. 6B shows the text object 65Bafter the adjustment. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, since the number ofpieces of pixel data is small before the adjustment, the text object 65Ais shown such that an outline thereof is jagged. Regarding the textobject 65B after adjustment (FIG. 6B), when it is rendered as the rasterimage data in S29 (FIG. 4), the size is expanded by S times based on thefirst conversion ratio. Thus, the number of pieces of pixel data of thetext object 65B has been increased, accordingly. Then, in S39 (FIG. 4),the image represented by the expanded raster image data is displayed ina manner reduced to 1/S with maintaining the number of pieces of pixeldata based on the coordinate conversion ratio. Thus, the number ofpieces of pixel data (i.e., the number of dots) of the text object 65Bfor a unit area has been increased. By displaying the text object 65B onthe high-resolution LCD 16, it is possible to display the text object65B of which outline is smoothed as shown in FIG. 6B.

<Print Process>

According to the above-described example, the image data creating module28 performs magnification of the raster image data and the like when thetext object 65 is displayed on the LCD 16. On the other hand, accordingto the present embodiment, the image data creating module 28 does notperform magnification of the raster image data when the text object 65is printed.

For example, in the memory 14 a print data area (an example of an imageformation area) is secured to store the rendering information and thesetting information for printing. The OS 32 executes printing using theprinter 50 or the printer 51 based on the print image data (example ofimage formation image data) stored in the print data area of the memory14. For example, when receiving the print command from the edit screencontrol module 27, the edit screen control module 27 obtains printcharacteristic information (an example of image formation characteristicinformation) regarding the print resolution (e.g., dpi) from theprinters 50 and 51. Then, the object processor 28A input the printcommand including the print characteristic information stored in theprint data area of the memory 14 and the print image data to the OS 32,thereby the print process being performed. In this case, the objectprocessor 28A does not expand the raster image data of the print-targettext object 65 and the like based on the print resolution. The objectprocessor 28A prints the print-target text object 65 and the like based,for example, on the print setting.

According to the above-described example, the object processor 28Aexecutes a process of expanding the raster image data by executing thefirst rendering command with respect to the OS 32 in S25 (FIG. 4). Thatis, the object processor 28A generates the expanded raster image datathrough the OS 32. Alternatively, the process of creating the expandedraster image data may be executed by the object processor 28A. In such acase, the object processor 28A does not input the first renderingcommand into the OS 32. The object processor 28A may set the value ofthe scale S as the conversion ratio in S21 (FIG. 5), and expand theraster image data based on the rendering information obtained in S11 andthe expansion rendering instruction information regarding the conversionratio. The object processor 28A expands the raster image data using, forexample, the data storage area 34 of the memory 14.

Next, the object processor 28A inputs the reduced display instructioninformation to the OS 32 through the device context wrapper 28B (S31).The reduced display instruction information is instruction informationdirected to the OS 32 to display the image represented by the rasterimage data having been expanded by the object processor 28A in a reducedmanner With this configuration, expansion of the raster image data canbe executed by the object processor 28A not through the OS 32. Further,it becomes possible to display the expanded raster image data on the LCD16 in a reduced manner

In the above-described embodiment, the device context wrapper 28Breceives the reduced display instruction from the object processor 28A(S31). That is, the object processor 28A determines the reduction ratio.Alternatively, the device context wrapper 28B may determine the reduceddisplay instruction information, and thus, the reduction ratio of theexpanded raster image data. The device context wrapper 28B has obtainedthe scale S in S13 (FIG. 4). Therefore, it becomes possible that thedevice context wrapper 28B determines the reduction ratio (e.g., 1/S)based on the information received in S13. In such a case, the objectprocessor 28A does not transmit the instruction of reduced display tothe device context wrapper 28B, but may transmit only the renderinginstruction of the expanded raster image data (S31). Then, the devicecontext wrapper 28B may determine the reduction ratio in accordance withthe rendering command received from the object processor 28A, andinstruct the OS 32 to display the reduced raster image data (S35, andS37).

<Displaying of Auxiliary Line>

Next, displaying of the auxiliary line will be described. The straightlines used to indicate the object frame 66, the guide lines 69, linesused for graduations of the ruler 1, the indicating line 75 shown inFIG. 3 are auxiliary lines which are to be referred ty by the user whenthe user performs a label editing work. It is preferable to use as thinline as possible for the auxiliary lines so as not to obstacle theediting work. It is noted that the minimum thickness of the auxiliarylines is thinner as the resolution of the LCD 16 is higher. Therefore,according to the illustrative embodiment, the image data creating module28 uses as thinner line as possible in the displaying process of theauxiliary lines based on the scale S of the LCD 16. In the followingdescription, processes similar to those in the text displaying processwill be simplified or omitted.

FIG. 7 shows a sequence of the image data creating module 28 when theauxiliary lines are displayed. Firstly, in S51 (FIG. 7), the objectprocessor 28A obtains the rendering information regarding rendering ofthe auxiliary lines. It is noted that, when there occurs a renderingevent to input a rendering command to the OS 32, the object processor28A obtains the rendering information corresponding to the renderingevent. For example, when the edit screen control module 27 receives acommand to change a display setting of the object frame 66 shown in FIG.3 from the non-displaying state to a displaying state in response to theoperation input through the input I/F 18, the edit screen control module27 assumes that the rendering event to render the auxiliary lines isgenerated and transmits the rendering command to the object processor28A.

In response to receipt of the rendering command from the edit screencontrol module 27, the object processor 28A obtains the renderinginformation regarding the auxiliary lines to be rendered (S51). Therendering information indicates starting points and ending points of theauxiliary lines, respectively. Further, the rendering information alsoincludes information regarding a pen for rendering the auxiliary lines.It is noted that the term “pen” indicates setting information related tolines for rendering the auxiliary lines and includes a line thicknessfor curved or straight lines), a line color, a shape of an end of eachline and the like. The device context wrapper 28B obtains a valueindicating a ratio of the resolution when the resolution of the standarddisplay is assumed to be one (S53).

Next, the object processor 28A inputs the rendering command of theauxiliary lines to the OS 32. According to the illustrative embodiment,when a plurality of auxiliary lines are to be rendered, the objectprocessor 28A transmits a pen setting command (S55) and the renderingcommand (S63) shown in FIG. 7 to the OS 32 alternately to render theplurality of auxiliary lines one by one. Firstly, the object processor28A sets the pen via the device context wrapper 28B in S55. For example,when an auxiliary line is rendered, a thin pen is designated as therendering information by the edit screen control module 27. The thin penhere is, for example, a cosmetic pen which is used in a functionregarding image rendering used in the Windows®, which is a pen fordrawing a line of which width is one dot. According to the illustrativeembodiment, when the line width information of the pen indicates a value“0,” the line width of the pen is set to be 1 dot. Further, when theline width information of the pen indicates a decimal value between 1and 0 (e.g., a value “½”), the line width of the pen is set to be 1multiplied by the decimal value (e.g., “½”). Thus, even if the linewidth information of the pen indicates a value larger than “0” whichcorresponds to the lien with of 1 dot, the designated line with of thepen is less than 1 dot.

The object process 28A outputs the commando to use the pen of which linewidth is W1 when the auxiliary lines are rendered in S55. In response tothe above command, in S57, the device context wrapper 28B executes aprocess of changing the line width W1 to another line width W2 which isthinner than the line width W1 in accordance with the scale S obtainedin S53.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process of setting the line width to W2,which is executed by the device context wrapper 28B in S57. Firstly, inS81, the device context wrapper 28B determines whether the value of theline width W1 obtained, in SM, from the object processor 28A in S55 is“0.” When the value of the line width W1 is “0” (S81: YES), the devicecontext wrapper 28B sets a value 1/S as the changed line width (S83).Accordingly, if the resolution of the LCD 16 is twice the resolution ofthe standard display, that is the value of the scale S is “2,” thedevice context wrapper 28B outputs the rendering command to render athin line such as the cosmetic pen, and sets “0” to the line width W1,while the value of the line width W2 is “½.” As a result, in comparisonwith a case when the line width W1 is set to “0” (i.e., the line widthis one dot), the converted line width W2 designates a thinner line width(i.e., ½ times). As a result, when the line width W1=0 is designated bythe OS 32 or the edit screen control module 27 to render thin lines, thedevice context wrapper 28B converts the value of the scale S, that is,converts the command to render thinner lines in accordance with thevalue of the resolution of the LCD 16.

When it is determined that the value of the lien width W1 is not “0”(S81: NO), the device context wrapper 28B sets the value of the linewidth W1 to the converted value of the line width W2 (S85). Therefore,when the line width W1 which is thicker than 1 dot is designated, thedevice context wrapper 28B sets the designated width to the line widthW2 without changing the value of the line width W1.

When the process shown in FIG. 8 has been executed, the device contextwrapper 28B transmits a command instructing to store the settinginformation including the value of the line width W2 as determined inthe device context 35 to the OS 32 (S58). The setting information hereis the information included in the rendering information obtained inS51, and includes information regarding the thickness of the lines usedfor rendering the auxiliary lines. The OS 32 stores the settinginformation obtained from the device context wrapper 28B in the devicecontext 35 (S59). It is noted that the device context wrapper 28Binstructs the OS 32 to store the setting information through, forexample, the API.

In response to the setting information regarding the line width W2 beingnewly stored in the device context 35, the device context wrapper 28Btransmits the pen information originally stored in the device context 35to the object processor 28A (S61). Then, after completion of rendering afirst auxiliary line, the object processor 28A can restore the settinginformation of the device context 35 to the information before thechange using the originally stored pen information obtained in S51 (S69,S71).

When the original pen information is obtained from the device contextwrapper 28B, the object processor 28A transmits the rendering command tothe OS 32 through the device context wrapper 28B (S63). In accordancewith the rendering command transmitted from the object processor 28A,the device context wrapper 28B transmits the rendering command to the OS32 using the API (S65). Based on the information obtained from thedevice context wrapper 28B, the OS 32 renders the raster image data ofthe auxiliary lines in the rendering area of the device context 35.Then, based on the setting information in the device context 35 storedin S59 (e.g., the information regarding the line width W2) and theraster image data rendered in the rendering area, the OS 32 displays theimage of the auxiliary lines on the LCD 16 (S67). Thus, when theresolution of the LCD 16 is higher than that of the standard display, itbecomes possible to display the auxiliary line which is thinner than theauxiliary lines of which width is 1 dot. For example, as shown in FIG.6A, an object frame 66A before adjustment is done is displayed with theline width of 1 dot. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 6B, an object frame66B after adjustment is indicated with thinner lines in accordance withthe resolution. With this configuration, when the label edit screen 61(FIG. 3) is displayed, an edit-target object 65 and the auxiliary lineswhich are not subject to edition can be displayed such that they caneasily be distinguished from each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, after transmitting the rendering command to the OS32 (S63), the object processor 28A transmits the command to restore theoriginally set pen information obtained in S61 to the OS 32 through thedevice context wrapper 28B (S69, S71). Based on the command from thedevice context wrapper 28B, the OS 32 restores the pen settinginformation of the device context 35 to the state before S59 wasexecuted. With this configuration, at every rendering of the auxiliaryline, the pen setting can be restored.

In the example described above, the auxiliary lines are described asexamples of thin lines. It should be noted that rendering of thin linesin accordance with the scale S of the LCD 16 may be employed fordisplaying other lines. The image data creating module 28 may beconfigured such that, when the rendering command explicitly designatingthe line width W1 in accordance with the operation input through theinput I/F 18 is received, the image data creating module 28 may renderthe lines having the line width W1 as designated.

Specifically, the rendering command explicitly designating the linewidth is, for example, the rendering command associated with a value ofthe line width which is input through the input I/F by the user. Amethod of designating the line width may include inputting of a concretevalue of the line width, or indicating a degree of the line width (e.g.,“relatively thick”).

A case where the line width is designated non-explicitly is a case wherethe line width has been designated in advance as an initial value. Forexample, for the cosmetic pen used for rendering the auxiliary lines,the line width is preliminarily defined as an initial value inapplication programs and OS 32. When the line width is designatedexplicitly, it is likely that the user who is creating a label maydesignate a desired or preferred line width. Therefore, in such a case,it is preferable that the lines are rendered with the designated linewidth. Accordingly, when receiving the rendering command in which theline width W1 is explicitly designated, the image data creating module28 performs rendering the lines with the designed line width W1.

According to the illustrative embodiment described above, when the textis displayed, the object processor 28A instructs the OS 32 to render theraster image data indicated by the rendering information with expandingthe same at the conversion ratio based on the value of the scale Srelated to the resolution of the LCD 16 (S25, S27, S29). With thisconfiguration, the number of pieces of pixel data included in the rasterimage data increases in accordance with the resolution of the LCD 16,that is, the value of the scale S. Then, the object processor 28Ainstructs the OS 32 to display the image represented by the expandedraster image data in a manner reduced to 1/S size based on thecoordinate conversion ratio on the LCD 16 (e.g., S31). According to thisconfiguration, when the image represented by the raster image data isdisplayed on the LCD 16, the number of dots used for display in a unitarea, namely, the number of dots controlled for displaying the image isincreased. Thus, by displaying the image represented by the expandedraster image on the high-resolution LCD 16, the performance of the LCD16 can be well utilized.

When the auxiliary lines are rendered, the device context wrapper 28Bidentifies the line width W2 which is thinner than the line width W1based on the scale S related to the resolution of the LCD 16 (S57). Bydisplaying the auxiliary lines with identified line width W2, it becomespossible to utilize the performance of the LCD 16.

It is noted that the PC 10 is an example of an information processingapparatus, and the LCD 16 is an example of a display. The device context35 is an example of a rendering area. The printers 50 and 51 areexamples of an image forming device.

<Effects of Illustrative Embodiment>

According to the illustrative embodiment, the object processor 28A setsthe conversion ratio to “1” (S23) when the scale S is “1” (S19: NO).Further, when the scale S is “1,” the object processor 28A does notinput the reduced display instruction information to the OS 32.According to the above configuration, when the scale S is “1,” that is,when the resolution of the LCD 16 is equal to the resolution of thestandard display, the object processor 28A does not expand the rasterimage data. As a result, it is possible to suppress execution ofunnecessary process to increase the number of pixels of the text object65 when the resolution of the LCD 16 is relatively low.

When the rendering information does not include information to renderthe vector image data, the object processor 28A may not instruct the OS32 to execute the expanding process or the like. Thus, when the vectorimage data using a scalable font is displayed, the OS 32 executes theexpanding/reducing process in accordance with the resolution of the LCD16. On the other hand, when the raster image data using, for example, abitmap font is displayed, the expanding process according to theresolution of the LCD 16 is not executed. Similarly, when the image 67for the label is a dot image, the expanding process according to theresolution of the LCD 16 is not executed. According to the aboveconfiguration, the expanding process is executed before the image datato be displayed is converted to the raster image data which representsan image by aggregation of dots (i.e., when the image data to bedisplayed is the vector image data), it is possible to display an imageaccording to the high resolution of the LCD 16.

When the text with the scalable font is displayed, theexpanding/reducing process in accordance with the resolution of the LCD16 is performed, and it is possible to display the text with utilizingthe performance of the LCD 16.

The object processor 28A instructs the OS 32 to render the raster imagedata indicated by the rendering information in the rendering area withexpanding the same according to the conversion ratio corresponding tothe scale S. Further, the object processor 28A instructs the OS 32 todisplay the image represented by the expanded raster image data withreducing the image in accordance with the scale S on the LCD 16. Withthe above configuration, expanding of the image data and reduction ofthe image can be performed in accordance with the scale S, thereby theimage being displayed in accordance with the resolution of the LCD 16.

The device context wrapper 28B instructs the OS 32 to expand the rasterimage data and display the image in a reduced manner using the API.According to this configuration, by utilizing the functions provided bythe OS through the API, it becomes possible to transmit the conversionratio and the coordinate conversion ratio easily and securely.

The image data creating module 28 does not expand the raster image datawhen the text object 65 is printed. Thus, the object processor 28Ainstructs the OS 32 to print the text object 65 based on the printcharacteristic information, thereby the text object 65 being printedappropriately in accordance with the characteristics of the printer 50or 51.

In rendering the auxiliary lines, the characteristic informationincludes a scale indicating the ratio of the resolution of the LCD 16.Accordingly, by identifying the line width of the auxiliary lines inaccordance with the scale S and displaying the auxiliary lines with theidentified line width on the high-resolution LCD 16, the displayutilizing the performance of the LCD 16 can be realized.

The device context wrapper 28B identified a 1/S of the line width W1 asthe line width W2 (S83). With this configuration, the line width inaccordance with the scale S (i.e., the characteristic information) canbe appropriately identified.

When the line width W1 is explicitly designated by the renderingcommand, the image data creating module 28 does not identify the linewidth W2. Accordingly, when there is explicit designation of the linewidth, the designated line width is prioritized, and lines are displayedwith the designated line width. According to this configuration, a casewhere the line width is changed although there is explicit designationof the same can be suppressed, and the lines can be displayed with theexplicitly designated line width.

The lines indicated by the rendering information are the auxiliarylines. Accordingly, the auxiliary lines which are to be referred to whenthe user performs the editing work can be made thinner lines which aredisplayable, based on the resolution. Therefore, it becomes possiblethat the images (e.g., text) subject to edition and images displayedonly for assisting the edition work can be made easily distinguishable.

It is noted that the aspects of the present disclosures need not belimited to the above-described embodiment, but can be embodied withvarious types of modifications and improvements based on knowledge ofperson skilled in the field.

For example, according to the illustrative embodiment, the objectprocessor 28A executes the conversion ratio determining process (FIG. 4:S17). This configuration may be modified such that the device contextwrapper 28B determines the conversion ratio determining process.Further, in the above-described illustrative embodiment, the devicecontext wrapper 28B executes the line width W2 setting process (FIG. 7:S57). However, the object processor 28A may be configured to perform theline width W2 setting process.

Further, in the above-described illustrative embodiment, a case wherethe process of the application program 26, including the image datacreating module 26, is executed by the CPU 12. However, the aspects ofthe present disclosure need not be limited to such a configuration. Thatis, the PC 10 may execute the processes of the application program 26with use of an ASIC or other logical circuits instead of or in additionto the CPU 12.

In the above-described illustrative embodiment, the device context 35 isdescribed as an area of the memory. However, the device context 35 maybe configured to be provided with a program executing a particularprocess. For example, the device context 35 may be an object in anobject-oriented programming language, or provided with a methodreceiving instructions externally.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for aninformation processing apparatus having a display, a memory and acontroller, the display having a plurality of display pixels, anoperating system being installed in the information processingapparatus, the non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions realizing a controlling program, wherein, when a renderingcommand is received by the operating system from a program installed inthe information processing apparatus, the operating system is capable ofperforming a rendering process of rendering raster image data in arendering area secured in the memory in accordance with the receivedrendering command, the raster image data having a plurality of pieces ofpixel data, each of the plurality of pieces of pixel data is image datafor a unit of a pixel, wherein the operating system causes, whenexecuted, the controller to perform a display process to display animage represented by the raster image data rendered in the renderingarea by controlling the plurality of display pixels based on the rasterimage data rendered in the rendering area of the memory, wherein thecontrolling program causes, when executed, the controller to perform:when a rendering event requiring input of the rendering command to theoperating system is generated, a rendering information obtaining processto obtain rendering information corresponding to the rendering event; acharacteristic information obtaining process of obtaining characteristicinformation regarding a resolution of the display; and a raster imagedata generating process to generate the raster image data using therendering information and based on the characteristic information,wherein, when the characteristic information indicates that theresolution of the display is a particular high resolution which ishigher than a standard resolution corresponding to a standard display,the controller performs: inputting, in the operating system, expansionrendering instruction information to render the raster image data byexpanding the raster image data indicated by the rendering informationat a first conversion ratio, the first conversion ratio being aconversion ratio corresponding to the characteristic information asobtained, the first conversion ratio being a conversion ratio assuming asize of non-expanded raster image data as one, the non-expanded rasterimage data being the raster image data generated in the raster imagedata generating process when using the rendering information withoutincluding the expansion rendering instruction information as an input;and a first input process of inputting, in the operating system, reduceddisplay instruction information, the reduced display instructioninformation being information instructing the operating system todisplay an image represented by the raster image data rendered in therendering area at the first conversion ratio when the operating systemexecutes the display process, and wherein, when the characteristicinformation indicates that the resolution of the display is the standardresolution, the controller performs: inputting, in the operating system,non-expansion rendering instruction information to render thenon-expanded raster image data; and inputting, in the operating system,display instruction information instructing to display an imagerepresented by the non-expanded raster image data rendered in therendering area without reducing when the operating system executes thedisplay process.
 2. The non-transitory computer-readable mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein the characteristic information is a scaleindicating a ratio of a resolution of the display to a particularresolution, and wherein the raster image data generating process isperformed based on the rendering information without including theexpansion rendering instruction information when the scale is one. 3.The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1,wherein, in the raster image data generating process: when the renderinginformation includes information to render vector image data, the rasterimage data is generated by expanding the vector image data at the firstconversion ratio, and when the rendering information does not includethe information to render the vector image data, expanding of rasterimage data represented by the rendering information is not performed. 4.The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 3,wherein the vector image data is image data of a scalable font.
 5. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, whereinthe characteristic information includes a scale indicating a ratio ofthe resolution of the display with respect to a particular resolution,wherein the raster image data generating process is performed based onthe raster image data indicated by the rendering information at thefirst conversion ratio corresponding to the scale, and wherein, in thefirst input process, the controller instructs the operating system todisplay an image represented by the raster image data rendered in therendering area at the first conversion ratio on the display in a mannerreduced in accordance with the scale.
 6. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein, in the firstinput process, the controller inputs the reduced display instructioninformation to the operating system using a function the operatingsystem has.
 7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according toclaim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is connected to animage forming device, wherein the operating system is configured toperform image formation using the image forming device based on imagedata for image formation stored in an image formation area, the imageformation area being an area secured to the memory, and wherein thecontrolling program causes, when executed, the controller to perform asecond input process of inputting an image formation command includingthe characteristic information stored in the image formation area andthe image data for image formation, the characteristic information beinginformation related to a resolution in an image formation performed bythe image forming device.
 8. A method of controlling an informationprocessing apparatus having a display and a memory, the display having aplurality of display pixels, an operating system being installed in theinformation processing apparatus, wherein, when a rendering command isreceived by the operating system from a program installed in theinformation processing apparatus, the operating system is capable ofperforming a rendering process of rendering raster image data in arendering area secured in the memory in accordance with the receivedrendering command, the raster image data having a plurality of pieces ofpixel data, each of the plurality of pieces of pixel data being imagedata for a unit of a pixel, wherein a display process is executed todisplay an image represented by the raster image data rendered in therendering area by controlling the plurality of display pixels based onthe raster image data rendered in the rendering area of the memory,wherein the method executes: a rendering information obtaining processto obtain rendering information corresponding to a rendering event whenthe rendering event requiring input of the rendering command to theoperating system is generated; a characteristic information obtainingprocess of obtaining characteristic information regarding a resolutionof the display; and a raster image data generating process to generatethe raster image data using the rendering information and based on thecharacteristic information, wherein, when the characteristic informationindicates that the resolution of the display is a particular highresolution which is higher than a standard resolution corresponding to astandard display, the method executes: inputting, in the operatingsystem, expansion rendering instruction information to render the rasterimage data by expanding the raster image data indicated by the renderinginformation at a first conversion ratio, the first conversion ratiobeing a conversion ratio corresponding to the characteristic informationas obtained, the first conversion ratio being a conversion ratioassuming a size of non-expanded raster image data as one, thenon-expanded raster image data being the raster image data generated inthe raster image data generating process when using the renderinginformation without including the expansion rendering instructioninformation as an input; and inputting, in the operating system, reduceddisplay instruction information, the reduced display instructioninformation being information instructing the operating system todisplay an image represented by the raster image data rendered in therendering area at the first conversion ratio when the operating systemexecutes the display process, and wherein, when the characteristicinformation indicates that the resolution of the display is the standardresolution, the method executes: inputting, in the operating system,non-expansion rendering instruction information to render thenon-expanded raster image data; and inputting, in the operating system,display instruction information instructing to display an imagerepresented by the non-expanded raster image data rendered in therendering area without reducing when the operating system executes thedisplay process.
 9. An information processing apparatus having adisplay, a memory and a controller, the display having a plurality ofdisplay pixels, an operating system being installed in the informationprocessing apparatus, wherein, when a rendering command is received bythe operating system from a program installed in the informationprocessing apparatus, the operating system is capable of performing arendering process of rendering raster image data in a rendering areasecured in the memory in accordance with the received rendering command,the raster image data having a plurality of pieces of pixel data, eachof the plurality of pieces of pixel data being image data for a unit ofa pixel, wherein a display process is executed to display an imagerepresented by the raster image data rendered in the rendering area bycontrolling the plurality of display pixels based on the raster imagedata rendered in the rendering area of the memory, wherein thecontroller is configured to perform: when a rendering event requiringinput of the rendering command to the operating system is generated, arendering information obtaining process to obtain rendering informationcorresponding to the rendering event; a characteristic informationobtaining process of obtaining characteristic information regarding aresolution of the display; and a raster image data generating process togenerate the raster image data using the rendering information and basedon the characteristic information, wherein, when the characteristicinformation indicates that the resolution of the display is a particularhigh resolution which is higher than a standard resolution correspondingto a standard display, the controller performs: inputting, in theoperating system, expansion rendering instruction information to renderthe raster image data by expanding the raster image data indicated bythe rendering information at a first conversion ratio, the firstconversion ratio being a conversion ratio corresponding to thecharacteristic information as obtained, the first conversion ratio beinga conversion ratio assuming a size of non-expanded raster image data asone, the non-expanded raster image data being the raster image datagenerated in the raster image data generating process when using therendering information without including the expansion renderinginstruction information as an input; and inputting, in the operatingsystem, reduced display instruction information, the reduced displayinstruction information being information instructing the operatingsystem to display an image represented by the raster image data renderedin the rendering area at the first conversion ratio when the operatingsystem executes the display process, and wherein, when thecharacteristic information indicates that the resolution of the displayis the standard resolution, the controller performs: inputting, in theoperating system, non-expansion rendering instruction information torender the non-expanded raster image data; and inputting, in theoperating system, display instruction information instructing to displayan image represented by the non-expanded raster image data rendered inthe rendering area without reducing when the operating system executesthe display process.